Heater element



T. H. IRELAND HEATER ELEMENT Filed Nov. 24, 1931 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8,1932 p l. p

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Application filed November 24, 1931. Serial No. 577,016.

This invention relates to heater elements Fig.3 is a section onthe-line 33 of Fig. for use in connection with boilers or other 2 on an enlarged scale. i sources of heat supply and theobjeet of-the Fig. 4 is a detail view of one heaterelement invention is to provide an element involving which I employ, and showinga modification 5 one or more tubular bodies exposed to the and, I Y I fire box of a boiler or other heat" medium, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of part of the whereby the radiation of heat or heat flow construction shown inFigA, detached. through one end of said element will operate The heater element which forms the subto heat water contained therein for any deject matter of my inventionmay have many sired service, such for example, as heating adaptations and uses in the heating of water the water of a humidifier; a further object of or other fluids for supplies and services of the invention being to provide a heating elevarious kinds and classes. In the accompanyment of the class described involving a tubuing drawing, I have shown. one of the many,- lar body with a closed and relatively heavy uses of my invention and one method of its r end wall structure, the open end of said tubuinstallation, the use illustrated in the accomlar body permitting the introduction and panying drawing being to supply water at circulation of water therethrough and means the proper temperature to a humidifier for within said tubularv body for subdividing supplying the acquired moisture to a room the same into separate passages,causing the or compartment, especially in cases where 20 flow of water into and through said elethe said room or compartment, or several ments; a further object being to provide an rooms and compartments are heated by what element of the class described including a is known as hot water heat, wherein the temflanged end wall with a collar adjustable perature'ofthe water under normal condis longitudinally of said element, which in contions is not suflicient to provide the proper 5 junction with the flange operates to mount supply of vapors'to the room or compartment. 5

and retain the member in connectionwith a Ithus provide a water heating element which suitable support; a still furtherv object being is coupled with the boiler of the hot water to provide an elementof the class described system whereby water at the proper temperinvolving two tubular bodies and a fitting or ature may be supplied to the humidifier, as. fixture to which said bodies are coupled at will be apparent. I spaced intervals, and whereby the circula-- In the accompanying drawing, I have diation of water through the element to any grammatically illustrated at 10 a boiler, 11 source of supply or service may becarried representing the grate thereof, 12 the fire out; and with these and other objects in box, 13 and 14: the inner and outer walls of 35 view, the invention consists ina device of the the boiler having at spaced intervals ports class described and for the purpose specified or openings 15' and 16 arranged above the which is simple in construction, eflicient in grate 11 and opening into the fire box 12 use, and which is constructed as hereinafter and outwardly through the outer wall 14. described and claimed. At 17, I have indicated a humidifier having 40 The invention is fully disclosed in the folan air inlet pipe 18 and outlet pipe 19, .a

lowing specification, of which the accompanyfiow tank 20 controlling the supply of water ing drawing forms a part, in which the sepato the humidifier through a supply pipe 21, rate parts of my improvement are designated a relatively large pipe or passage 22 extendby suitable referencecharacters in each of ing longitudinally through the tank'of the 45 the views, and in which: humidifier through which water may be cir- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating culated through the inlet pipe 28- and outlet one use of my invention. pipe 24, said pipes having branches 23a and Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detail view of part 24a communicating with the tank proper of of the construction shown in Fig. 1, with the humidifier for circulatinghot waterthere- 9 parts broken away and in section. through.

At 25, I have shown one form of my improved water heating unit, which in the construction shown comprises a tubular fitting 26 of conventional form having four tubular branches 27, 28, 29 and 30, adapting the fitting to different installations on boilers of various types. At 31 and 31a, I have shown two heating elements made according to my invention and constituting part of the heating unit, said elements being coupled with the tubular extensions 27 and 28 respectively, the extensions 29 and 30 being closed by plugs 32. Each element 31, 31a, is of similar con struction, and consists of an elongated tube having a heavy closed end wall 33 terminating at its outer end in an enlarged flange 34 adapted to butt up against the inner face of the inner wall 13' of the boiler as shown,

the outer end of said elements being in threaded engagement with the tubular extensions 27-28 as indicated at 35.

The elements 31 and 31a are passed through the openings 15 and 16 respectively formed in the boiler, and in attaching the same to the fitting 26, it will be understood that said elements are rotated in the openings 15 and 16 until drawn into a fully secured and sealed position with respect to the extensions 27 and 28. The flanged collars36 are arranged on the elements 31, 310., and are brought into abutting engagement with the outer surface of the outer wall 14 to secure the elements in position,'the collars being retained against .movement by set screws 37. At the inner end of each element 31, 31a, is

an uninterrupted chamber 38 disposed adjacent the wall 33. Outwardly of the chamber 38, the bore of said element is subdivided by a three-way web structure 39 into three independent passages 40, 41 and 42, which open outwardly through the. open end of the element and into the bore or chamber 43 of the fitting 26. The purpose of this construction is to provide at least one of the chambers 40, 41and 42 at the upper side of each element,

and in like manner, one of said chambers at the lower side thereof, regardless of the. position the element may assume after it has been turned in making its attachment with the fitting 26 so as to provide for natural circulation of water or other fluidthrough each element 31, 31a.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification in the construcelement 315 and forms the annular space or chamber 38a similar to the chamber 38. The member 44 is held against displacement from the element 31?) by a split ring 49 arranged in a groove 50 formed in the bore of the element 31?) adjacent its open end. A supply or feed pipe 51 is coupled with the upper end of the heating unit or the fitting 26 thereof, the pipes 23 and 23a being coupled therewith, as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing, whereas another return pipe 52 is coupled with the lower end of the fitting 26, the pipe 51 being coupled. with the pipes 2424a. A valve 53 is employed in the pipe 52 ad jacent its attachment to and below the fitting 26, so as to drain the water from the fitting, the elements 31, 31a, as well as from the humidifier, as will be apparent.

It will bexunderstood that by mounting the relatively heavy end walls 3333ct of the heating elements 31, 31a, 31b, in connection withthe boiler in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, to expose the same to the fire box of the boiler, the heat of the fire box is transmitted directly to said heavy end walls and passed therethrough to heat the water in the chambers 38, 38a.

By reason of the fact that a comparatively small volume of water is present in the chambers 38, 38a, and the heatis intense, the water will be heated quickly and caused to circulate through the humidifier, providing proper functioning of the humidifier at all times, it being understood that the water entering the fitting 26 from the pipe 52 will pass into the lower chamber or compartment of the heating element 31a, into the chamber 38, out through an upper compartment, and the same circulation will take place through the element 31, and the heated water will pass upwardly through the pipe 51 and be introduced into the tank of the humidifier through the pipe 23a and also passed through the pipe or chamber 22 disposed in the humidifier,

and will then be discharged through the pipes 24, 24a, and returned to the fitting 26 through the pipe 52. This circulation will continue, and as the water is vaporized, the supply will be replenished through the action of the float chamber 20 and the supply pipe 21.

As previously stated, many other uses of my invention than that herein specifically shown may be made. In other words, one or more of my heating elements may be used for heating the water of a hot water supply. In this connection, it will be understood that the heating element need not necessarily be coupled with a boiler, and. the same may be introduced in connection with or exposed to a source of heat supply of any kind or class.

In this connection, it will be apparent that my invention is not necessarily limited to the use of two of the heating units as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, as one unit will perform the desired function and operation, it being understood that the fitting, 26 may be constructed to suit diflerent installa tions and uses, and various other changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated, tubular body having a closed end wall, means for heating said closed end wall, means coupled with said element whereby a fluid to be heated may be introduced into said element and exposed to the closed end wall thereof, means for subdividing said element into independent passages extending longitudinally therethrough to provide a circulatioi'i of fluid through said element in the process of heating the same, means on said element for securing the same to a suitable support adjacent the source of heat supply, said last named means involving an annular flange on the closed end of said element, and a collar adjustable longitudinally of said element and said flange.

2. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated, tubular body, one end of said body being closed by a comparatively thick wall, an outwardly extending flange at the closed end of said body for retaining said body against movement in one direction with respect to a support, and other means mounted on said body for retaining the same against movement relatively to a support in the opposite direction.

3. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated, tubularbody, one end of said body being closed by a comparatively thick wall, an outwardly extending flange at the closed end of said body for retaining said body against movement in one direction with respect to a support, other means mounted on said body for retaining the same against movement relatively to a support in the opposite direction, and means i for subdividing the bore of said tubular body into independent passages arranged longitudinally thereof.

4c. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated, tubular body, one end of said body being closed by a comparatively thick wall. an outwardly extending flange at the closed end of saidbody for re taining said body against movement in one direction with respect to a support, other means mounted on said body for retaining the same against movement relatively to a support in the opposite direction, and means for subdividing the bore of said tubular body into independent passages arranged longi tudinally thereof, said means being arranged in spaced relation with the inner surface of the closed end wall of said'body to place the separate chambers in communication with each other adjacent said closed wall.

- '5. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated tubular body, one end ofwhich is closed by an end wall and the other end-of'which is open, said body being adapted to be mounted in the wall of a heating unit to expose the closed end wall only of said body to the source of heat supply of said unit and with the open end of said body projecting from said unit, means on the closed end portion of said body for limiting outward movement of the body with respect to the wall'of said unit, and other means on said body engaging the wall of said unit to retain the same against inward movement.

6. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated tubular body, one end of which is closed by an end wall and the other end of which is open, said body being adapted to be mounted inthe wall of a heating unit to expose the closed end wall only of said body to the source of heat supply of said unit and with the open'end of said body projecting from said unit, means on the closed end portion of said body for limiting outward movement of the body with I respect to the wall of said unit, ot

on the closed end portion of said body for limiting outward movement of the body with respect to the wall of said unit, other means on said body engaging the wall of said unit to retain the same against inward movement,

said last named means involving a collar adjustable longitudinally of said body, and means coupled with the open end of said body whereby a fluid to be 'heated'may be intro ner means on sald body engaglng the wall of said unitduced into said body and exposed to the 7 closed end wall thereof.

8. A water heating unit for use in connection with boilers comprising two tubular bodies, one end of each of said bodies being closed by a comparatively thick wall andineluding an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage the wall of the boiler to limit outward movement of said tubular bodies with respect thereto, said tubular bodies being arranged in spaced relation to each other and one above the other in the wall of said boiler, means adjustably supported 011 each of said tubular bodies for preventing inward movement thereof with respect to the wall of the boiler, and a tubular member coupled with the outer open ends of said tubular bodies to provide for the circulation of water into and through said tubular bodies and means in said tubular bodies for subdividing the bores thereof into independent longitudinal passages.

9. A. water heating unit for use in connection with boilers comprising two tubular bodies, one end of each of said bodies being closed by a comparatively thick wall and including an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage the wall of the boiler to limit outward movement of said tubular bodies with respect thereto, said tubular bodies being arranged in spaced relation to each other and one above the other in the wall of said boiler, means adjustably supported on each of said tubular bodies for preventing inward movement thereof with respect to the wall of the boiler, a tubular member coupled with the outer open ends of said tubular bodies to provide for the circulation of water into and through said tubular bodies and means in said tubular bodies for subdividing the bores thereof into independent longitudinal passages, and water supply and discharge pipes coupled with the opposed ends of said member.

10. A heating element of the class described comprising an elongated tubular body having a comparatively thick closed end wall, means for mounting said body in connection with a heater unit to expose the closed end wall only thereof to the heat sup ply of said unit, means coupled with said element whereby a fluid to be heated may be introduced into said element and exposed to the closed end wall thereof, a partition member detachably mounted in said tubular body for subdividing the same into independent passages extending longitudinally therethrough to provide a circulation of fluid through said element in the process of heatingthe same, means on the inner end of said member for spacing the partitions thereof from the closed end wall to form a chamber placing the passages in communication with each other adjacent said closed end wall, and means for retaining said member against accidental displacement from said body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 21st day of November, 1931.

THOMAS H. IRELAND. 

